Anise-free biscotti that is. There are few things on the planet that I dislike, and star anise or anything that tastes like black licorice is one of them. This may be why I dislike fennel so much, unless someone cooks the crap out of it. Then it’s ok. Maybe you can begin to understand why I’ve never been a huge biscotti fan. Not all biscotti is made with anise, but much of it is. At least that’s what I think of when I think of biscotti. I love the idea of having biscotti with my coffee (and or beer (=), so I decided to create my own anise-free biscotti. Chocolatey yet nutty, and buttery yet crispy, I’m sad that I didn’t think of this sooner. I don’t want to toot my own horn, but they are absolutely remarkable. I hope you find as much pleasure in making them as I did.
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Biscotti!
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Take 2!
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Crunchy and satisfying!
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I do wish I liked star anise, and I’m not saying that I NEVER cook with it because I do, but there is just way too much of it going on in your everyday biscotti recipe. Besides, they are super cute, that just the idea of having them in my spice cabinet makes me very happy. My recipe is a tad different. Of course you get the same texture and crunch as you would with any other biscotti recipe, but it’s more like a chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookie got together with biscotti and had a baby.
Chocolate(y) goodness!
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Even better without the star anise!
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Yum!
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When I think of traditional biscotti, I imagine myself sitting at a cafe in Italy with a couple shots of espresso, people watching and taking in the sites. We obviously don’t live in Italy…sad, but unfortunately true, we had to make do. I did go ahead and pair this with a beer. I don’t think it’s such a bad idea. The flavor combinations actually go very well together, especially when you are pairing it with a coffee porter like we did with Big Sky Brewing’s Cowboy Coffee Porter. The reason we chose this beer was because it is very, very coffee(y). It’s great for an after dinner snack.
Try a coffee porter!
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…or a latte!
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If you plan on eating this biscotti in the AM, I do not suggest pairing with a beer however. Biscotti and coffee go together like spaghetti and meatballs. They are perfect for dipping, or you could just eat them all by their lonesome.
Oh and if you decide to add anise, you won’t hurt my feelings =).
Nutty Biscotti
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The perfect amount of sweet.
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Enjoy!
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5 Responses
Dark chocolate and macadamia are two of my favorite things!! Delish :)
Thanks! I hope you try them out! I enjoy the combination of flavors too =)
Yum your biscotti looks delicious. That looks like a perfect cup of coffee with it too!
Rosie, Thanks! The coffee was pretty delicious too, I have to admit =)